Tuesday, December 31, 2013

This is my monthly State of the Stack post. It is my way to keep track of my review books and to hopefully reduce the stack that I have waiting for me. I take a look at my review commitments on the last Monday of each month. Please feel free to join in and let me know the state of your stack.Here is my Review Books Spreadsheet. Yellow highlighted books are ones past their publication date that I still haven't read and reviewed. I use pink highlights for reviews due in even numbered months so that I can see at a glance how many I have for each month. Ideally, this keeps me from over-committing to review books. My Review PileHere is my stack in order of publication date. All links go to Amazon. All eARCs are marked with an asterisk.

Next Month's PlanHaving already read the five books that will be released on Jan. 7th, I plan to read the rest of January's books and at least the four February 4th releases on my stack. I wonder why all new releases come out on Tuesday. It seems to me that new books would get more publicity if they didn't all release on the same day. What are your plans for your January reading?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

And unlike my bag, which smells like Irish Spring and athletic tape, this bag smells like it's been hanging out with whatever mythical creature wears the clothes inside it: fruity and floral and generally girly. I promptly break into a sneezing fit.

This week my teaser comes from Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill. I chose this one from Amazon Vine because the summary sort of reminded me of the plot of The Parent Trap - a movie I enjoyed when I was young.

Here is the description:

Switching places with someone else has never been more fun than in this new novel about following your dreams and finding your heart from the author of Meant to Be.

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure skater who choked during junior nationals and isn't sure she's ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she'd give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player who's been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she's playing the worst she's ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she's the lucky one. But it didn't occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It's not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you're someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Tynga of Team Tynga's Reviews hosts this meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the wonderful books everyone gets.I added one Kindle book to my stack this week.

Sometimes Living in the Big Apple Really Bites! Eighteen-year-old rock star Sam Lee isn’t like other girls. She’s the super-talented bass player and songwriter for an all-girl indie band and an incurable loner. Then one night after a concert in Central Park, she’s attacked by a "wild dog." Suddenly, this long-time vegetarian is craving meat—the bloodier, the better. Sam finds herself with an unbelievable secret and no one she trusts to share it. And so begin the endless lies to cover up the hairy truth...When a new girl gang appears in the city—with claws and paws—Sam suspects there’s a connection to her own inner beast. Trapped in a tug-of-war between her animal and human selves, forced to choose between the guy who sparks her carnal appetite and the one who makes her feel like a normal teenage girl, Sam has to unravel the mysteries of the werewolf world before her bandmates, the media, and her mother catch up to her.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

DefyAuthor: Sara B. LarsonPublication: Scholastic Press (January 7, 2014)Description: A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and heart-racing romance.
Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?My Thoughts: DEFY was an exciting high fantasy book. Alexa Hollen is an excellent fighter but, in order to keep out of the king's breeding house when she becomes an orphan, she has to pretend to be a boy. She and her twin brother Marcel join the king's army and work their way up to being guards for Prince Damian, the king's heir.But the king is a horrible person, doing horrible things to his country. He hates and kills sorcerers but has a black sorcerer as his bodyguard. Damian wants to overthrow his evil father and concocts a number of plots to make it happen. He has asked Alex for her trust but is keeping many secrets from her.There is a love triangle in this story. Alex loves Damian but she is also loves fellow guard Rylan. Rylan has known she was a girl since the beginning but hadn't told her. Her brother had sworn him to secrecy. Rylan has also loved her for years. Alex is torn between the two men who are both worthy love interests. I did have a couple of minor problems with the book. The whole idea that Alex could pass as a man in the prince's guard seems unlikely. She has been passing for three years and is now 17. She is sort of reaching the end of the time when that is going to work. Also, the number of people who know she is a girl is expanding exponentially as she gets involved in Damian's revolution. My second issue has to do with the economics of sending all orphan girls into the breeding houses to make more soldiers for the king's army. There are lots of years when the children born are useless as soldiers or breeders. What happens to them?Beyond those minor quibbles, the book was filled with adventure and excitement. Fans of high fantasy will enjoy it.Favorite Quote:

If I wasn't able to stop Iker, the king was almost assured his victory—but at what cost? Did he intend to be the king of a graveyard?

Friday, December 27, 2013

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted atFreda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

This week I am spotlighting Defy by Sara B. Larson. I got this one from NetGalley. Here is the description:

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and heart-racing romance.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Beginning:

The crackle and hiss of the flames devouring our house couldn't block out the screaming and wailing of those were were still alive.

Friday 56:

He drew in a sharp breath and I flinched. Had that been too womanly a thing to say? Would a man have asked after his wellbeing?

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Treecat WarsAuthors: David Weber and Jane LindskoldSeries: Star Kingdom, Book 3Publication: Baen; First Edition edition (October 1, 2013)Description: New York Times and Publishers Weekly Best Selling Young Adult Series. Book Three by international writing phenomenon David Weber. Two young settlers on a pioneer planet seeks to stop a war and to save the intelligent alien treecats from exploitation by unscrupulous humans.The fires are out, but the trouble’s just beginning for the treecats

On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem—there’s nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan—a stronger group who’s not giving up a single branch without a fight

Stephanie Harrington, the treecats’ greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training—and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanie’s best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats—that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths—and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.

Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.My Thoughts: Spinx's human and treecat populations are dealing with the aftermath of the fire season. Because all the rangers are needed, Stephanie and Karl are given the opportunity to go to a special forestry course on Manticore. While Stephanie is excited for the opportunity, she is very hesitant to leave her new boyfriend Anders behind. She is also worried about taking Lionheart away from Sphinx.Staying at home are Jessica and Anders who are dealing with a new group of anthropologists who have to come to Sphinx to study the treecats. They seem to have a hidden agenda about wanting the treecats to be declared minimally sentient and in need to being put on reservations. Meanwhile, the Swaying Fronds Clan is suffering because their range was decimated in the fires and many of their most able members died when trying to escape the fires. The remaining clan are the old, the sick, and the very young. They need to find a place to live to survive the coming winter but the neighboring clan is also suffering and can't take in another clan. Even worse, the one member of the clan dealing with Swaying Fronds has gone insane because of the stress and managed to hide his condition from the mind healers of his clan. Jessica and Anders find themselves caught in the war that occurs between Swaying Fronds and the neighboring clan and trying to keep the fact that treecats can and will kill each other from the anthropologists with agendas. Jessica and Anders also find themselves falling in love despite the fact that Anders is Stephanie's boyfriend and Jessica is her best friend. I especially liked the sections of the books that were told by the treecats. I could feel their frustration in trying to communicate with the various "two legs" in their lives. Fans of science fiction will enjoy this entertaining story.Favorite Quote:

"It isn't the sort of thing we encourage," Karl acknowledged. "Bad for tourism if too many tourists get eaten, you know."

This week my teaser comes from Treecat Wars by David Wever and Jane Lindskild which is book three in the Star Kingdom series. Here is the description:

New York Times and Publishers Weekly Best Selling Young Adult Series. Book Three by international writing phenomenon David Weber. Two young settlers on a pioneer planet seeks to stop a war and to save the intelligent alien treecats from exploitation by unscrupulous humans.

The fires are out, but the trouble’s just beginning for the treecats

On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem—there’s nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan—a stronger group who’s not giving up a single branch without a fight

Stephanie Harrington, the treecats’ greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training—and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanie’s best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats—that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths—and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.

Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Tynga of Team Tynga's Reviews hosts this meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the wonderful books everyone gets.Thirteen books came to my house this week.Review:

After debating and checking my calendar, I decided to take a chance and request Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong from Edelweiss. I was pleased to be approved.

After suffering from envy last week when I saw that a number of people got the physical ARC of The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski along with a cool box and dagger, I was pleased to see a package from Ksenia in my mailbox that had the same thing. Everyone I showed it to thought it was the coolest thing!

Book Fair:

Because, apparently, 1700 books on my TBR stack didn't seem like enough, I found these at our school book fair.

Shadowhunters and Downworlders by Cassandra Clare was a deal this week. I thought it would be handy when I finally get around to reading the Mortal Instruments book which have been on my TBR mountain for a while already.

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi was a deal this week. It joins Under the Never Sky on my TBR mountain.

In the After by Demetria Lunetta was also a Kindle Deal this week. Since I have been curious about it, I added it to my stack too.

Rival by Lacy Yager was free and praised on a blog I read. It was too good a deal to pass up.

Also Known As by Robin Benway was also a Kindle Deal this week. I read the ARC and thought it was the funniest book I read last year. I couldn't resist getting a keeper copy.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Blood BoundAuthor: Keshia SwaimPublication: Spencer Hill Press (October 8, 2013)Description: Starting college a year early is hard. Starting fae college and learning to protect the world from the Unseelie is harder. Brielle Reed has always been an over-achiever, but this time she may have bitten off more than she can chew. Between her crash course in fae politics, struggles to control her new mind-reading ability, training sessions with the demanding Dr. Schwartz, and discoveries about the father who is still a mystery to her, Brielle finds herself longing for a chance at a normal life. But she may not get that chance. Or chance at a life at all, for that matter.My Thoughts: I enjoyed this new urban fantasy about fae who live among humans and who are fighting a war for control of Earth. Brielle Reed has just recently learned that she is half-fae and that the father who disappeared when she was five was an extremely powerful fae and hero to his people. She is just learning about her heritage and about the powers she inherited from him. She is learning to use her mind-reading to see threats to the fae.Brielle is also adjusting to college life at a fae college and making friends and enemies. Her roommate Pamie is a fashion design major. Her adviser pairs her up with another half-fae who is instantly jealous of what she sees as Brielle's closeness to the adviser. Then there is her boyfriend Alex. Also half-fae, he is studying art and seems to be pulling away from her. Brielle gets deep into fae politics and learns more about the father she lost. She also gets captured by the Unseelie fae in an attempt to find out the plans of the Seelie fae. The story was exciting and Brielle was an interesting character. I was less enamored with her boyfriend Alex. It doesn't say much for the future of their relationship that, when Brielle was hurt, he couldn't stand to visit her in the hospital. Fans of urban fantasy will enjoy this story.Favorite Quote:

Apparently heartache and history papers go hand in hand. Mind-numbing lists of names and dates don't seem so bad when the alternative is visualizing your boyfriend with the cruel yet beautiful slut who stole him away.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted atFreda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

This week I am spotlighting Blood Bound by Keshia Swaim. I got this review book from Spencer Hill Press sometime after July 29. It was sent to my summer home and I didn't get back there to pick it up until mid-October. Here is the description from Amazon:

Starting college a year early is hard. Starting fae college and learning to protect the world from the Unseelie is harder. Brielle Reed has always been an over-achiever, but this time she may have bitten off more than she can chew. Between her crash course in fae politics, struggles to control her new mind-reading ability, training sessions with the demanding Dr. Schwartz, and discoveries about the father who is still a mystery to her, Brielle finds herself longing for a chance at a normal life. But she may not get that chance. Or chance at a life at all, for that matter.

Beginning:

Welcome to Central Seelie U., known to humans as Central State. My legs were already burning from the five trips up the stairs to my fourth-floor dorm room, Mom was still wiping at her eyes, and the new room felt like the air conditioner was broken.

Friday 56:

"I'm worried about my mom," I shot back. "What's wrong with that?"Stacie jabbed her finger at a grainy picture of one of the victims. "That is my mom." Ripping the paper from my hands, she stormed out into the hall, leaving me feeling like the worst person in the world.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Description: Sixteen-year-old Iris Capaldi led an entirely ordinary life before the accident. There were no make-out sessions with her best friend, Benji. No homicidal skinheads. No unexplainable flying creatures. And no ridiculously cute, teenaged aliens. Since the accident, however, the bizarre has become the ordinary. It’s an unusual day if she’s not kissing Jamen, her extraterrestrial classmate, arguing with her impulsive, dead mother, or almost dying herself. Suspenseful, insightful and fun, Iris effortlessly blends love, loss and the paranormal in an unpredictable teen romance that will enthrall fans of The Hunger Games and Twilight, as well as anyone drawn to the endless possibilities of first love . . . no matter how extraordinary the circumstances.

My Thoughts: IRIS was an action-packed story which combines ordinary teenage life, tragedy, and aliens in an interesting mix. Iris Capaldi - called Mia by her friends - is an ordinary teenager. When the story begins, she is eagerly anticipating getting her driver's license since it is her sixteenth birthday. Her best friend is her next door neighbor Benji. They hang out together all the time. She loves her quirky, hippie mother and they get along just great.

But shortly after getting her license and when Mia is driving, she and her mother get into a car accident and her mother is killed. Mia has to go live with her older brother Daniel and his girlfriend whom she does not like. She is awash in grief and depression and considers killing herself but is saved by a strange creature - enter the aliens.

When she starts her new high school, she meets Jamen who is a transplant from Idaho. The two become fast friends and Mia develops quite a crush on him. Mia also develops an interest in aliens and is determined to investigate. She convinces Benji to go with her to downtown Detroit to visit a group she found on the web. She doesn't find them but she and Benji do run afoul of a human predator and are saved by still another creature.

During Thanksgiving Break with her spacey aunt in New York City, Mia and Jamen are hanging out in Central Park when they are attacked again. In order to save Mia, Jamen has to admit that he is an alien and transform into an alien creature to defend her. He also confesses that he has been sent to Earth to protect her from another of his fellow aliens who had been in love with her father.

I liked Mia's voice and her resiliency. Though she had all sorts of difficult situations to overcome, she managed to come through. I loved how realistic Mia was. I loved her relationships with her mother, Benji and her older brother Daniel. About 85% into the story, I told a friend that I thought her relationship with Jamen was doomed though. I was right but the reason it was doomed wasn't at all what I thought it would be.

Fans of science fiction and romance will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:

I never understood suicide before last night. I never understood the possibility of so hopeless and alone that death seems like a better party than life. But the instant I faced my death for real, as I was falling to the cement, I knew how wrong I had been just minutes before. Life is the better party.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I am trying to clean up my review stack before the end of the year and chose Iris by Scott Stabile from my Kindle stack to read this week. I was sent this book by the author in mid-November. Here is the description from Amazon:

Sixteen-year-old Iris Capaldi led an entirely ordinary life before the accident. There were no make-out sessions with her best friend, Benji. No homicidal skinheads. No unexplainable flying creatures. And no ridiculously cute, teenaged aliens. Since the accident, however, the bizarre has become the ordinary. It’s an unusual day if she’s not kissing Jamen, her extraterrestrial classmate, arguing with her impulsive, dead mother, or almost dying herself. Suspenseful, insightful and fun, Iris effortlessly blends love, loss and the paranormal in an unpredictable teen romance that will enthrall fans of The Hunger Games and Twilight, as well as anyone drawn to the endless possibilities of first love . . . no matter how extraordinary the circumstances.

Teaser:

Two hours before my alarm is set to go off, I break into laughter and kick my legs up and down on the bed. I can't help it. It's six a.m. on October 9th, and no amount of Red Bull could wire me this much. I am, at last, sixteen years old and will have my driver's license in just a few hours.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Tynga of Team Tynga's Reviews hosts this meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the wonderful books everyone gets.I added four books to my stack this week.

I got Going Rogue by Robin Benway for review from Bloomsbury via NetGalley. I thought Also Known As was the funniest book I have read in a long time and was very glad to get this chance to read the sequel. This book will be released on January 14.

I also got Snakeroot by Andrea Cremer. I liked her Nightshade books and was happy to see that more books are being written in that world.

I also added a couple of books to my stack that have been on my wishlist for quite a while.

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent was chosen because I liked the blurb. I couldn't resist this: "In an alternate London where magical creatures are called Unnaturals and preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger."

Starglass by Phoebe North is science fiction and I can't resist science fiction. I don't think there is enough good science fiction for young adults. It was my favorite genre when I was a teen.

I was a school library/media specialist for a small school district in Southeast Minnesota. I retired after 41 years in media centers in June 2017.
I love reading! My favorite genres are adult, YA and Middle Grade paranormals, science fiction/fantasy, and mysteries. I am also a fan of adult romances and romantic suspense.
I maintain two book blogs. Ms. Martin Teaches Media is used to blather about the YA books I read. Inside of a Dog is my home for the adult books I read.

NetGalley Badges

My Review Policy

Beginning January 1, 2012, I will no longer be accepting self-published books for review.

If I accept your book, I will agree to read, review, and post the review prior to the book's publication date only if I receive the book a minimum of 21 days before the book is published. Books arriving later than that will be reviewed as they fit into my review schedule.